Bert from Crosslinks

Bert (not his real name) came to the attention of the Street Outreach (Van) Project from its' earliest days - approximately two years ago. He is an older gentleman, attired in layers of clothing, with poor hygiene and grooming reflective of "life on the street." He had no permanent home, no identification, and no personal belongings. Both his pride and his suspicious nature interfered with his ability to trust or accept what we could offer. Through perseverance and consistent caring messages from Crosslinks outreach staff, he started to share his world.

He was known in the Richmond Hill area, and for years he had roamed from verandah to verandah of abandoned homes. His serious mental illness interfered in his ability to communicate and to settle in one spot. He'd become well known at two landmarks - a McDonald's and a local Coffeetime donut shop which became message centres for us and the sites of meetings with Bert. Gradually he began to accept some clothing and then some food from the van, finally allowing the van staff to assist him to move into a boarding home.

This arrangement didn't last long because Bert found it too expensive, so he rented a verandah from an unscrupulous landlord. It was not heated, and was furnished with just a cot- he considered this too expensive as well. During this time the van staff gained the knowledge that Bert was not receiving all of his entitlement. He begrudgingly agreed to let them help him get I.D. and complete the paperwork for him to access full benefits.

With the opening of our newest home on Leslie Street in Newmarket, the van staff convinced Bert to "just take a look" at the place. He refused to go there on his own and would only go with the van staff. The Coordinator of the Homeless Initiatives program came to meet Bert. "I don't think I'll like her " Bert remarked, but after much persuasion from the van staff, he agreed to meet her and within minutes they were chatting and sharing muffins! Bert told her that our home was more than he could hope for, but it was a BIG decision... He agreed to "think about it."

Several days later, when he next saw the van staff, Bert proudly announced that he would move in! We welcome Bert's arrival in our new program - the place he can call home for the first time in many, many years.

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